Having succeeded in the '80s by drawing on '60s nostalgia with a song ("Your Wildest Dreams") and video,
the Moody Blues -- in the '90s -- began tailoring entire shows to recapture their '60s glory days -- and they succeeded. Performing on tour with a series of regional orchestras, they brought the majesty of their old studio sound onto the stage for the first time on songs like "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon," and audiences responded by turning them into one of the top concert draws of the decade.
Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra -- the disc and the accompanying video -- are beautifully performed and recorded (the video is gorgeous), and the group -- caught amidst the splendor of one of the prettiest outdoor concert venues in the West (
Stevie Nicks has also done a video there), and with the orchestra backing them up on half the numbers,
the Moody Blues rise to the occasion with a drive and eloquence that they haven't shown on-stage in many years. An essential recording and video for any fan of the group. [This deluxe edition expands the album to a double-disc set with eight extra tracks.] ~ Bruce Eder